title: Antimicrobial peptide expression is developmentally regulated in the ovine gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides are abundant components of the innate immune system present in species throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. In mammals, these immune peptides have been localized to epithelial tissues of the pig, mouse, rat, cow and human gastrointestinal tracts. We have identified in sheep two members of the beta-defensin antimicrobial peptide gene family that are expressed in a unique pattern throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Sheep beta-defensin 1 mRNA is the most prevalent from tongue to colon with the exception of the distal ileum, where beta-defensin 2 mRNA predominates. Sheep beta-defensin expression varies significantly between animals and is developmentally regulated both pre- and postnatally. These changes in antimicrobial peptide expression may correlate with anatomical differentiation as well as physiologic adaptations to extra-uterine life.
authors.affiliation: Joint Program in Neonatology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Huttner
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brezinski-Caliguri
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002417:Cattle; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D023082:Defensins; D004064:Digestive System / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D005865:Gestational Age; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D023082:Defensins; D012333:RNA, Messenger